Improvement in potato-digging machine



MOSES I-I. 'WI`LEY,'OE BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

Letters Patent No. 76,127, dated Mzi'chl, 1868.

, IMPROVEMENT IN POTATO-DIGGING MACHINE.

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TO AIL PERSONS TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS MAY ACOME:

Be -it known -that I, MOSESII. WILEY, of Boston, in the county of Suii'olk, and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and usefulior improved Potato-Digging Machine; and do hereby declare the same to be fully described in the following specification, and represented in the accompanying drawings, of whichv Figure 1 is a top view,

Figure 2 a longitudinal and vertical section,

Figure 3 a transverse section ofit.

Figure 4 is a top view of the excavating-comb.

In such drawings, A denbtes the frameof the machine, as provided with two supporting-wheels, B C, which are arranged on journals projected from opposite sides of the frame. One ofthe said wheels, viz, that marked B, has ribs or teeth extending from its periphery, and at equal 'distances asunder, in order to enable it to take into the ground while the machine is in 'motion thereon. .iA gear, D, arranged on .the frame of the wheel B, is

connected to such wheel Abya pin, a, going through the two. This gear D Aengages with another gear, E, fixed onda bell-cranked shaft, F, arranged within the framo'A,vin manner as represented. A box-screen or sfter, G, supported on ways, so as to he capable of being moved horizontallyand lengthwise-of the frame A,.is connected with the bell-crank b of the shaft F by a-pitman or connecting-rod, c.' I By means of the' cranked'shaft, the i pitman, and the twogca'rs D E, quick 'reciprocating rectilinear motions will be imparted tothe sift'er or screen while the wheel D may be in revolution. The said gear D also engages with another gear, H, fixed on the shaft d of a rotary lifter, I, which is composed of such shaft and two series of curved teeth, 'e, extended in opposite directions from it, and at equal distances apart, in manner as exhibited in the drawings.y The lifter is disposed on the frame A, so as to be directly in front of the screen. Below the lifter, and within the frame A, is an excavator or comb K, which, by means of journals ff, arranged at its rear corners, issupported within the frame A, and so as to be under the liftershaft. This excavating-comb has its teeth so arranged as toenable the teeth of the lifter, whilcsuch lifter may be in revolution, to play between them. The comb is further supported by a bow-lever, L, connected to the'comblbytwo links, 71, h. 1X-notched turn-button M, applied to the front part of the frame, serves to retain the bow-lever either of its positions, that is, so as to either hold the excavating-comb downwhen in its lowest, or up when inits highe'stposition. lWhen depressed, and the machine is being drawn over the surface of a potato-field, the excavating-comb will pass into the earth, and underneath the potatoes. Theotary liftei-.will seize them` and raise them from the comb, and throw them into the screen, which will separate from them the earth which may have been raised with `them. .A castero r wheel, N, maybe applied to the front end ot' the machine, to aid in snpportingthe frame A, and such frame may have thills or a pole extended from it, to enable one or more horses or other draught-animals tobe harnessed to thc'macbine.

I am aware of the subject of the United States Patent, No. 17,129, and therefore do not 'claim such. `M'y invention differs ,materially therefrom, both in the combination as well las in the arrangementoi` its parte, as I employ a comb insteadof a plough to enterv the earth, and I arrange the rotary lifter so that its arms may work or pass between the tccth'of the comb, and instead of a stationary grid, upon which the earth and potatoes are to hc thrown, and moved by the action of the lifter, 1 en iploy` a reciprocating box-screen, which not' only scparates the earth from the potatoes, bntrctains them, or prevents them from being discharged upon the ground,

whereasthe machine of John Ta wart as described inthe s'aid atent, NoQ'17,-`l29, dro s the otato on the .ge i P P `P ground.

The comb will not only bury itselfin the earth to better advantage than a plough, but will enable much ofi the earth raised by the lifter to be discharged between the teeth of the conlb.' The comb, therefore, acts to facilitate the-operations'of the lifter. I What I claim as my invention, is v Th'combination and arrangement of the reciprocating screen, the excavating comb, and the rotary lifter, andthe mechanism applied to each for operating it., substantially in manner as described .thc whole being supported by and applied to a frame, A, andl its wheels B C, so as to be operated thereby, as und for the'pnpose explained.

M. H. WILEY.

Witnesses:

R. H. EDDY, SAMUEL N. PIPER. 

